The Final Frontier Podcast

Arete Media

Welcome to The Final Frontier! Every week Jake and Justin watch an episode of Star Trek starting from the very beginning and dive deep into the behind the scenes, commentary and love of the franchise. Join us on our weekly mission to explore the final frontier!

  1. 1D AGO

    The Final Frontier Season 2, Episode 20: Old Balls

    🌍 - Vacations that make a difference: https://www.globeaware.org/ 📺 - Dutton Ranch only on Paramount+ this May: https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/5940... 💻 - Visit our website: https://aretemedia.org/ What happens when ancient, godlike aliens ask to borrow your body… and you actually say yes? In this episode of the Final Frontier Podcast, we break down Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Return to Tomorrow”—an episode packed with big sci-fi ideas, ethical dilemmas, and… some seriously questionable decisions. From mind transfers and android bodies to consent, trust, and betrayal, this one gives us a LOT to unpack—even if not all of it lands. We dig into Sargon and his mysterious race, the logic (and lack thereof) behind their plan, and whether this episode actually says something meaningful about humanity—or just spins its wheels. There’s debate over the twist, McCoy stepping up as the moral compass, and one of the strangest “nothing really happened but everything happened” endings in Trek history. And of course, we can’t help but get sidetracked into everything from parallel evolution and space travel theories to classic Trek quirks, questionable science, and the ever-present question: 👉 Should you ever let an alien wear you like a meat suit? If you love Star Trek, deep dives, and unfiltered conversations that mix humor with real analysis—this episode is for you. #startrek #tos #ReturnToTomorrow #finalfrontierpodcast #scifi #StarTrekAnalysis #podcast #ClassicTrek #spaceexploration #nerdculture #aretemedia #startrektos

    1h 20m
  2. 3D AGO

    The Final Frontier Season 2, Episode 19: A Problematic Big War Metaphor

    🦇 - Get your owl boxes BUY 1 GET 1 50% OFF: https://big-bat-box.pxf.io/c/5940107/... ⛰️ - Get a mountain of entertainment on Paramount+: https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/5940... What happens when Star Trek stops being subtle… and starts calling out real-world war directly? In this episode of the Final Frontier Podcast, we break down A Private Little War—one of the most politically charged episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. Unlike the usual Cold War allegories, this one doesn’t hide behind metaphor. Kirk straight-up references 20th-century conflicts in Southeast Asia, making this episode feel less like sci-fi… and more like commentary ripped from the headlines. But as bold as the message is, this episode comes with baggage. From questionable decisions and uncomfortable themes to some truly wild production choices (yes… we’re talking about those leather pants), there’s a lot to unpack. And of course, we can’t ignore the Mugato—one of the strangest creatures in Trek history… and yes, we absolutely make the Zoolander comparison. Is this episode a powerful anti-war statement? Or does it stumble under the weight of its own execution? Watch as we dive deep into the themes, the controversy, and the legacy of one of TOS’s most debated episodes. #startrek #tos #finalfrontierpodcast #scifianalysis #coldwar #vietnamwar #startrektos #classictv #geekculture #podcast #aretemedia #trekkie #trekkies

    1h 1m
  3. FEB 28

    The Final Frontier Podcast Season 2, Episode 14: Scotty Doesn't Know

    🤘 - Check out ‪Valaina 📺 - Get all your Star Trek in one place: https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/5940... This week on The Final Frontier Podcast, we revisit Star Trek: The Original Series (Season 2, Episode 14) — “Wolf in the Fold” — the episode that somehow decides, “You know what this show needs?” JACK THE RIPPER… in SPACE. We break down everything that makes this one a weirdly entertaining (and occasionally problematic) TOS entry: the “pleasure planet” vibes, the unintentionally hilarious moments, and the absolutely wild turn where Scotty gets framed in a locked-room murder mystery that escalates into a full-on non-corporeal entity feeding on fear. Highlights include: -Why “Star Trek has gone woke” is a hilarious take (have you watched Star Trek… ever?) -The Argelius nightclub cold open (strip club? brothel? yes) -Scotty as the prime suspect in a “Jack the Ripper style” case -he prosecutor who is also the voice of Piglet (and once you hear it, you can’t unhear it) -How much sexism is too much sexism? If you love classic Trek, TOS deep dives, and laughing at the moments where 1967 television absolutely swings for the fences, you’ll have a blast with this one. ✅ Subscribe for more Star Trek episode breakdowns, lore, trivia, and no-holds-barred reviews from across the final frontier. #startrek #tos #WolfInTheFold #finalfrontierpodcast #scotty #startrekpodcast #startrektos #spock #captainkirk #bones #paramountplus #aretemedia

    57 min

About

Welcome to The Final Frontier! Every week Jake and Justin watch an episode of Star Trek starting from the very beginning and dive deep into the behind the scenes, commentary and love of the franchise. Join us on our weekly mission to explore the final frontier!